Hi, thanks for taking the time to look at my fundraising page!

This is my first marathon attempt and it is for a very worthy cause, so please be generous with your donation!

Cause

The father of one of my best friends, Pete Wallis, lost his 18 month battle with cancer whilst we were at Warwick University together. I am raising money for the Iain Rennie Hospice Nurses who cared for him at home during his illness.

Donating

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Iain Rennie Hospice At Home will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Just click on the "Sponsor me now" or the "Pay on completion" button and fill in the details!

Thanks,

Ed Bower

***LATEST NEWS***

Below is a training log recording my main training events after New Year:

08/01/06: First half marathon completed in training

15/01/06: Second half marathon completed in training

22/01/06: 15 mile run completed in training

29/01/06: 8 mile run completed in training

05/02/06: 17 mile run completed in training

06/02/06: Sustained an injury to my left leg from training run on the 5th; recommended to rest until recovered... very frustrating...

18/02/06: After a good rest and following some successful training sessions on the road and in the gym this week, I completed a full game of competitive hockey (won 3-0!) and seem to be back in business!

19/02/06: My first race - the Brighton half marathon - completed in 1hr47m01s in horrible weather conditions. Cold, wet & windy. Got my first medal too (...everyone got one!)

26/02/06: Another disappointment in training - this time my right knee suffered the same fate as my left knee did 3 weeks ago. After only a couple of miles, I decided that to carry on running would be foolish, as my knee was beginning to hurt. I does not feel as severe as my left leg did (which is absolutely fine now after a good rest), but just as frustrating.

I now have specific exercises and stretches that I perform at least twice a day (on both legs) to combat/prevent the problem - the problem is well known and has a very appropriate name: "runner's knee!" It is caused by a small muscle group in the outer thigh becoming tired. As the muscle group tires, it pulls on tendons that run down the thigh to the knee and this causes pain in the knee joint.

If I take care of the muscle group involved, I should be fine to do the marathon, just not in as quick a time as hoped unfortunately, as I will have to cut back on the training, before I can build up the miles again!

Tues 07/03/06: After a good rest from running and several swimming sessions, my legs are feeling much better. I have also had a sports massage and this has also helped a great deal. Back into training this weekend...

Fri 10/03/06: Following a few more swimming sessions, I returned to the gym today and did a great workout. My knees were both pain-free and all is looking good for a return to running tomorrow...

Sat 11/03/06: More frustration. I have come down with a cold virus. Completely out of action. Grrrr...

Wed 15/03/06: I have returned to work today following sick leave; for any of you that know me well, you will know that this is the first period of sick leave I think I've ever had! Not good timing.

Thurs 16/03/06: Feeling much better today. Been to the gym again and done a good workout on the cross-trainer. Hopefully, I can finally get back to running this weekend - at last!

Sat 18/03/06: Been running, but not good news. After 30mins, my right knee became very sore. I cannot tell you how frustrated I am! I have loads of energy, feel fitter than ever, but this problem just won't go away...

Fri 24/03/06: I've been swimming three times this week - trying to keep in as good condition as possible! I've also had a long workout on the cross-trainer at the gym, followed by several sets of weights and some thorough stretching. I continue to perform recommended physio exercises and stretches several times every day without fail. Still can't run though...

Sat 25/03/06: I visited a professional sports massage therapist again today; following some initial consultation, he decided not to give me a massage on my legs (to help my supposed IT band problems), but instead recommended that I visit a professional physio to get some ultrasound on my knee. He now believes that I have a problem with the lateral collateral ligament of my right knee, and it is not a problem with my IT band! I'm booked in for the physio on Monday night... fingers crossed! 

Mon 28/03/06: Seen my doctor and a professional sports physio today. Got my knee, feet, running shoes, posture and everything else that could affect my knee thoroughly examined! I now can finally say that the problem I have is indeed with the IT band (the major insertion of the IT band to my right knee on top of the femur end of the lateral collateral ligament, if you really want to know!). I've had ultrasound (to aid the healing) and will return on Friday for another treatment.

In the meantime, still no running, but I'm going swimming a lot, and doing all the things that have been recommended: stretches, putting ice on my knee for 10 mins every hour whenever possible, taking anti-inflammatories, physio exercises and having sports massages...

Hopefully, I should be ok for the marathon.. I'm doing my best, and the physio believes that it could be possible to recover in the next week or so if I continue with the ultrasound treatments, massages etc. So that's what I'll do.

Fri 30/04/06: After another examination and session of ultrasound, the physio has recommended that I have a cortisone injection. As I have such localised pain, this technique (which can be very painful I'm told) is suitable, but usually a last resort.

Mon 03/04/06: After a lot of negotiations with my GP and the surgery, I have managed to get a referral to a private specialist in Worthing who can give me a cortisone injection tomorrow, if he agrees that it is suitable solution to my problem.

Tues 04/04/06: The knee specialist gave me another examination, and agreed that a cortisone injection was suitable. The injection was entirely painless (contrary to rumours I had heard!) and I'm told that I can go running again on Friday! The specialist also recommended that I get an insole that will straighten up my slightly flat-footed right foot.

Fri 07/04/06: I bought the "Orthaheel" insole for my right foot today, as recommended by the knee specialist; this should hopefully prevent the problem that I have been suffering with from reoccuring. I decided to give it one more day before I go running.

Sat 08/04/06: I've been running today! For the first time in seven weeks I have completed a run without any pain afterwards! Admittedly, it was only a short run around the field by the gym, but I remain cautiously optimistic that the cortisone injection has done the job.

Sun 09/04/06: Another marginally longer run today, with plenty of stretches afterwards. Everything seems ok...

Mon 10/04/06: Everything's going well, back at family home in Solihull for the week.

Fri 14/04/06: A busy week. More training was completed early in the week, but it had to be put on hold on Thursday and Friday - sadly, my 92 year old nana fell ill on Wednesday evening, was taken to hospital and passed away in Doncaster Royal Infirmary all within 24 hours. Fortunately, my parents and I were able to be with her in her final hours at the hospital. It has certainly had a big impact on me and my marathon ambitions. She will be with me all the way round.

Easter Monday 17/04/06: More gym sessions and running completed over the weekend... now preparing arrangements for the marathon next Sunday! Iain Rennie Hospice at Home and my friends and family will be stationed with a banner at the 18 mile marker near Canary Wharf - I should run past between 12.15 and 1pm (if all goes well!)

Wed 19/04/06: Carbo loading begins!

Race day! Sun 23/04/06: 6am - got up, showered had a good breakfast and plenty to drink, then kitted up and got the tube and train from our family flat in London to the Red start in Greenwich Park. Drank lots more, dropped my bag off on the lorry, psyched myself up and off we went!

First three miles were fine, but then my right knee seemed to be about to play its usual game, but the intense pain I was then expecting never materialised; the lack of true running training over the past 9 weeks meant that my legs just got incredibly tired, but I felt good inside. I struggled round from then on just running on the pain threshold and with some super support from my family and friends, I made it over the finish line in 4 hours and 22 mins!